Tiffin Football Camps

Coaching Staff

Josh IsonAssistant Coach

Josh Ison is entering his seventh season as the Special Teams Coordinator, Linebackers and Head Strength Coach.

Ison comes to Tiffin from the University of Michigan where he worked as Special Teams Quality Control and TE (2009), DB (2010) after working as an Assistant Strength Coach during the 2008 season. While at Michigan Ison mentored Second Team All-American, Finalist for the Ray Guy and 5th round draft pick by the New England Patriots, Zoltan Mesko. He also spent one year working as a graduate assistant in Health Works Rehabilitation & Fitness Center at West Virginia University (2006-07) working with strength and conditioning.

Ison also spent five seasons as the linebackers coach at Fairmont State University (2003-07), where he coached three All American linebackers Ed Smith (2003), Matt Vance (2005) and Vince Black (2007) and six All Northeast Region players and the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year in the WVIAC. In his time at Fairmont State the defense was at the top of nearly every statistical category in the league at some point during his tenure, including 2004 when the defense was the best in the league and 20th in the country in total defense. Fairmont State also led the league once again in total defense in 2007 where they rated 15th in the country.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Ison was the head strength coach for the football team for two seasons and became the athletic department’s director of strength and conditioning for his final three seasons.

Ison was a standout linebacker for Fairmont State and was a team captain during the 2002 season, and was part of the 2000 Falcons team that won the West Virginia Conference championship. Ison was a four year letterman at Fairmont State University at middle linebacker; (2002) received Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All American Team. He attended training camp with the Cincinnati Bengals as a linebacker (2003), and then went on to play in the Arena leagues with the Colorado Crush as a fullback/linebacker (2004) and the Manchester Wolves linebacker/fullback (2004). Ison also holds certifications from the USA Weightlifting Level I Sports and the American Red Cross.

He is a 1999 graduate of Waverly High School in Waverly Ohio where he was an All State linebacker. Ison earned a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Fairmont State (2004) and a master’s degree in Athletic Coaching Education from West Virginia (2007).

Ison and his wife, Erin, reside in Toledo with their son, Joshua Zane Ison.

Matt EdwardsAssistant Coach

Coach Matt Edwards enters his fourth season with the Dragons.

The Dragon defense continued to trend in the right direction in 2015, surrendering a touchdown less per game than in 2014, 759-less rushing yards, and collecting 34 sacks compared to 12 the year before. Three players from the Dragons' defense were selected to the All-GLIAC Honorable mention team, linebacker Morgan Loyd, defensive lineman Jalen Randolph, and defensive back Stefan Willis. Loyd also performed in the classroom, being named a CoSIDA Academic All-American, the first in program history.

Edwards began coaching in 2003 as the linebackers coach at the College of Wooster. He then spent eight seasons working at Kent State starting out as a graduate assistant and was eventually named defensive line coach. During his career with the Golden Flashes, Edwards coached numerous players who received MAC honors, including Roosevelt Nix, MAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, and Danny Muir, former starter for the Indianapolis Colts.

In 2011, Edwards returned to his alma mater and coached the Miami Redhawks' defensive ends before taking on the responsibility as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.

After two seasons with the Redhawks’ Edwards left to become the defensive line and special teams coordinator at Florida Atlantic. The first season at FAU the defense finished 11th nationally in total defense, broke four sack records and finished bowl eligible. Edwards mentored 3 players from FAU to all conference accolades for the 2013 season

Edwards began his collegiate playing career as a linebacker for a team that finished his freshman season with a 10-1 record. He then moved to defensive end and served as team captain his senior year. Edwards earned his bachelor's degree in sport organization in 2002.

Lee StalkerAssistant Coach

Lee Stalker enters his fourth season with the Tiffin Dragons coaching staff. Stalker comes to Tiffin after coaching at Oberlin College, where he served as the Linebackers/Defensive Line Coach as well as their Head Strength and Conditioning Coach.

Stalker took over the Defensive Line in 2014, a group that posted only 7 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss that season. Since then, Stalker's group has logged 45.5 sacks and 84.5 tackles for loss.

The Dragons defense continued to improve in 2016, especially on the defensive line. The Dragons allowed 25 less yards per game than 2015, including six less rushing touchdowns than the prior season. As a defense, Tiffin collected 24 sacks, the defensive line accounted for 19 of those sacks. The defensive line held their own in the tackles for loss category, accumulating 63% of Tiffin's tackles for loss.

Stalker played Defensive End at Kent State University from 2007-11. He completed a great career that once began as a preferred walk-on player. Stalker earned himself a scholarship, became a two year starter and served as a team captain for the Golden Flashes in 2011. Following the 2011 season he was also a finalist for the NCAA Burlsworth Trophy.

He majored in Architecture & Environmental Design with a minor in Sports Administration at Kent State University.

Ryan AllgoodAssistant Coach

Ryan Allgood enters his first season as the offensive line coach on the Tiffin football staff in 2017.

The Grove, Oklahoma native played two seasons at the University of Oklahoma from 2006-08. He then was a student assistant from 2009-11 and a graduate assistant from 2014-16. Allgood played or coached on five Big 12 Championship teams, was part of three Sooner teams that made BCS bowls, and one that made it to the College Football Playoffs. Allgood earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Oklahoma in 2011.

While at OU, the 2016 offensive line overcame early season shuffling due to injuries to help the Sooners to one of the most productive offensive years in school history, ranking first nationally in passing efficiency rating (FBS record mark of 193.79) and pass completion percentage (.706), second in total offense (554.8 ypg) and third in scoring offense (43.9 ppg). OU also led the Big 12 by allowing just 1.6 sacks per game.

He helped coach a 2015 offensive line unit that featured All-Big 12 First Team honorees Ty Darlington and Nila Kasitati. Darlington also won the Campbell Trophy, Wuerffel Trophy and Bowden Award for his efforts on and off the field. OU started a pair of freshmen at the tackle positions, including left tackle Orlando Brown, who was named a Freshman All-American by the Sporting News. The line led the way for an offense that ranked No. 4 in scoring, No. 17 in passing and No. 22 in rushing.

The team sent three offensive linemen (Daryl Williams, Adam Shead and Tyrus Thompson) to the NFL Scouting Combine in 2015, a total topped by only two other FBS programs. Williams was an All-Big 12 First Team pick, while Shead and Thompson were both second-team selections.

Other noteworthy marks accomplished during Allgood's time at OU: Oklahoma led the nation in 2014 by permitting a mere 9.0 sacks; the Sooners led the Big 12 and ranked 10th in the nation in 2014, averaging 261.2 rushing ypg, the highest total produced by the Sooners under Stoops; running behind the blocking of the OU offensive line, freshman RB Samaje Perine led the Big 12 in rushing (131.8 ypg) in 2014 and set the FBS single-game rushing record with 427 yards vs. Kansas (11/22/14).
During the 2013 season, Allgood was the offensive line coach at Division III College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN where they won the UMAC Championship. He also spent two years as a Graduate Assistant for Division II Fort Hays State University in Kansas where he coached the tight ends, full backs and was assistant offensive line coach from 2011-12.

Shawn MurphyAssistant Coach

Shawn Murphy enters his seventh year with the Dragons and will be working with the defensive backs. In 2011, he served as the offensive assistant coach for the Dragons. Before coming to Tiffin, he coached at Tiffin Columbian High School from 2005-2009 where he won four league titles and had three playoff appearances.

Prior to his time at Tiffin Columbian, Murphy attended Heidelberg University where he was a three year letter winner on the football team. He would go on to receive his degree in Education followed by his Master’s degree in Educational Administration.

Murphy is currently employed by Tiffin City Schools as the Dean of Students at the Tiffin Middle School. Murphy resides in Tiffin with his wife Karen and two daughters Evelyn and Annabelle.

Steve GilbertAssistant Coach

Steve Gilbert enters his sixth year with the Dragons football program and serves as running backs coach. In 2011, Gilbert was inducted to the OHSFCA Hall of Fame after a 37 year career as a high school coach and teacher. He is a 1968 graduate of Toledo St. Francis DeSales High School. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo in 1973 and his Master’s degree from Bowling Green State University in 1979. He also earned a Vocational Education degree from Kent State University in 1991.

Gilbert has been an assistant football coach and wrestling coach at North Baltimore HS (1973-75); Bowling Green HS (1975-81); and Norwalk HS (1981-84). In 1985, Gilbert was named Head Football Coach at Ashland Crestview HS. In two years he moved on to Mansfield Senior HS as Head Coach. In 1993 he was named Head Coach at Tiffin Columbian HS where he stayed for 17 years, posting a career record of 137-44 with 10 NOL Championships and 8 trips to the OHSAA State playoffs. His career high school record is 189-72.

During his years as a high school coach, he earned many awards including: five-time Northwest Ohio Coach of the Year; OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity award (2008); President of the OHSFCA (2000); President of the Northwest Ohio Football Coaches Association (1998-2000); Regional Director for the OHSFCA (1995-2010); Board of Directors for NW Ohio Football Coaches Assn. (1995-2011); and Head Coach for Ohio in Big 33 game vs. Pennsylvania (2000). He coached NFL All-Pro Hugh Douglas while at Mansfield while also coaching 58 All-Ohio players at Columbian. Coach Gilbert is very honored that over 20 of his former assistants or players are now high school head coaches.

Coach Gilbert is married to his wife Nancy and they have two sons, Aaron and Kyle and daughter-in-law Meredith

Phillip ElyAssistant Coach

Phillip Ely is in his first season as Quarterbacks Coach/Pass Game Coordinator for the Tiffin Dragons after being a defensive graduate assistant for the Iowa State Cyclones under Head Coach Matt Campbell. Ely assisted Defensive Coordinator Coach John Heacock with the Cyclone defense in 2016.

Ely is a 2014 graduate of Toledo, where he led the Rockets to a 10-2 record and a victory in the Boca Raton Bowl as their starting quarterback.

Ely, who played two seasons at Toledo after transferring from Alabama, threw for 3,000 yards and 23 TDs against only 10 interceptions in his only full season as a starter in 2015. He missed the majority of his junior season (2014) after suffering a knee and shoulder injury.

A native of Tampa, Fla., Ely was a member of the Alabama football team for two seasons (2011-13), earning a pair of national championship rings under Head Coach Nick Saban. He played in six games as a backup QB for the Crimson Tide during the 2012 campaign.

Ely was recruited to Alabama after a decorated career at Plant High School in Tampa. He led Plant to three state championship games and walked away with a pair of Florida state titles and was named a U.S. Army All-American.

Joe HornAssistant Coach

Joe Horn is in his second season on the Tiffin coaching staff as the receivers coach. Last season Tiffin’s wideout had 11 different receivers record a catch, and combined for 177 catches, 2220 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. The group was led by Junior Charles Holland who finished the season as a 1st team All-Conference selection and D2football.com All-American. Holland snagged 77 balls for 1129 yards and 11 touchdowns. Charles led the GLIAC in receptions, finished 2nd in yards and yards per game, and 6th in receiving touchdowns. Holland is only the second Dragon wide receiver to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards while participating in the GLIAC.

Prior to TU Horn spent two seasons coaching receivers at Ashland, including All GLIAC wide receiver Danny Piko. During the 2015 season Ashland had an undefeated regular season and won the GLIAC Championship.

Horn is a 2010 AU graduate, and he ranks as one of the most prolific wide receivers in school history. He shares the school single-game record for touchdowns (six), and he also holds the school single-season record for touchdown receptions (12). He is the program's career leader in touchdown receptions (28) and receiving yards (2,681). He is second in career catches (170).

Horn has the record for the longest pass play in school history - 96 yards (done twice). He was a three-time All-GLIAC second-team selection. Horn was a member of the 2008 team that advanced to the NCAA playoffs and won the lone postseason game in school history.

While at AU, Horn was also a member of the track and field team. Four times he was recognized as the GLIAC runner of the year (indoors and outdoors). He was first-team all-conference in track and field and was recognized as an All-American 12 times.

After leaving the Eagles, Horn signed a free agent contract with the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts. He participated in three preseason games with the Colts. He also spent time with the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders and the Arena Football League's Cleveland Gladiators and Tampa Bay Storm.

Horn has worked as an assistant football coach at Perrysburg (Ohio) High School, and he's been a volunteer assistant coach with the AU track and field program.

Akeem NeedumAssistant Coach

Akeem Needum enters his first season with the Dragons coaching staff.

Previous to coming back to Tiffin, he served on the Carthage College Football coaching staff in August of 2015, coaching running backs.

Akeem played for Tiffin University for four years as a strong safety and starter on special teams. He earned three straight varsity letters while serving as a Defensive captain in his senior year.

A native of Columbus, OH, Akeem graduated in May of 2015 with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Sports Management.